Improvement in smoothing and fluting irons



2 shets -Sheet 1.

A. S. MANN.

Improvement in Smoothing and Fluting-Irons. No. 131,763, Patented Oct.1, 1872.

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AUSTIN S. MANN, OF ST. LOUIS, MO., ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO ROBERT A. WILSON, CHAS. J. BALDWIN, AND JOHN HEWIT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SMOOTHING AND FLUTING IRONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,763, dated October 1, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUsTrN S. MANN, of

the city and county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Sad-Iron and Fluting-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 2 is an end view; Fig. 3 is a top view of the bottom plate; Fig. 4 is a top view of the sadiron, parts of the handle of the top plate being removed; Fig. 5 is a side view without the screw; and Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the iron in the act of fluting.

The object of my improvement is to furnish, as a new article of manufacture, a sad-iron capable of ironing all styles of work, whether the same is plain or fluted, and which shall possess all the advantages due to cheapness, simplicity, and entire practicability.

My invention consists in constructing the sad-iron plate of two sections, each having a corrugated face, and so attached, by a screw or equivalent temporary attachment, as to be detachable at pleasure; and when detached, each plate not only being distinct and independent, but also each entirely free from any obstruction above its face, either for attachment or otherwise, that would prevent the passage of one corrugated plate over the other, and which is essentially necessary in order to secure the ironing movement. My improvement also consists in giving to one of the lateral faces of the handle-plate and at its heel such a contour as to permit of my irons accomplishing results heretofore unattainable with such devices. One of these faces, being grooved so as to leave two distinct ribs, permits of a single flute being ironed, and which is most important, especially where a corner is to be turned, and which frequently happens, as all familiar with the use of such articles will understand. The other or opposite lateral face is perfectly flat, and is most useful in ironing the open 1rfiarrow strip frequently left between the ruf- The construction and operation of my invention are asfollows: The sad-iron illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and which is designed for ironing smooth work as well as all styles of fluting, is constructed of the usual material and is of the ordinary form, and consists of a sad-iron plate, A, and a handle-plate, B. The upper face of the plate A has corrugations a andthelower face of the plate B has corrugations 1).. These corrugations are relatively so arranged that when the plates are brought in contact they will mesh together so as to represent a single or solid plate, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. These plates A B, when the device is to be used as a smoothingiron, are firmly secured together by a screw, 0, or other equivalent attachment, care being taken that the attachment employed is not permanent or fixed, but temporary in its nature and removable at pleasure, and having such bearings in or on the plates. Then, when removed, the plates A B shall not only be entirely independent, but the face of each entirely unobstructed, so as to allow, when the device is to be used for fluting, of a direct longitudinal movement of one plate over the other and the free forward and backward travel of the ribs of one in the grooves of the other. Another important advantage, due to a system of attachment which leaves each plate without obstruction, is that it permits the plates to iron ruffles of any width. After it has fluted the same the entire length of the corrugations a you have simply to shift the material and repeat the operation; and thus the widest and narrowest ruffle can be fluted with equal regularity and facility, and which would be impossible were the plates hinged together or other wise permanently secured. The rear section or heel of the iron plate B, instead of being of the ordinary form, is grooved on one of its lateral faces, as shown at D, and which permits of the handle-plate ironing a single flute, and which is a most important and desirable feature. The opposite section or lateral face E is perfectly flat, thus providing, in addition to the broad smoothing-iron, an exceedingly narrow iron, and which is most desirable, especially where two or more ruffles are attached to the skirt in such manner as to leave a plain strip between the same and which it is most diificult to iron with the ordinary flat or smoothing iron now in use. At the forward end of the sad-iron plate is an oblong socket or recess,

F, having its front and rear walls inclined so as to permit of the sad-iron plate being lifted by an ordinary stove-plate lifter or equivalent. What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The plates A and B, having corrugations a and b, and connected by a screw, 0, or other independent and temporary attachment that will leave the faces of the plate free from obstruction when detached, and which will permit of the longitudinal ironing movement of the plate B over the plate A in fluting, substantially as described.

2. The handle-plate B, having a groove, D, formed between two ribs on the lateral face of its heel so as to permit of the ironing of a single flute, substantially as described, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. S. MANN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN JAMES, J 0s. T. K. PLANT. 

